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Krista Almanzan

News Director & All Things Considered Host

Krista joined KAZU in 2007. She is an award winning journalist with more than a decade of broadcast experience. Her stories have won regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and honors from the Northern California Radio and Television News Directors Association. Prior to working at KAZU, Krista reported in Sacramento for Capital Public Radio and at television stations in Iowa. Like KAZU listeners, Krista appreciates the in-depth, long form stories that are unique to public radio. She's pleased to continue that tradition in the Monterey Bay Area.

Update: As of Wednesday afternoon, Monterey County Election Officials say they still have nearly 34,000 ballots left to count. Leaving many race still up for grabs. 56% of total ballots have been counted.

Jason Campbell, a small business owner and environmental activist who has worked to protect open space on the former Fort Ord , has taken an early lead in the race for Seaside City Council where there are two contested seats.

Seaside's City Council and Mayoral races may sound hyper local, but the outcomes could have broad reaching effects for the region. The winners will have a say on the Monterey Downs project, a proposed development that includes a horse racing track to be built on open space on the former Fort Ord.

Thu October 23, 2014

Walking into Salinas City Hall, the first thing you might notice are the business hours posted on the front door: “Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday”. But this perpetual three day weekend is nothing to celebrate.

Salinas City Manager Ray Corpuz says, it’s a reflection of how the recession has hurt the city’s budget. “Trying to serve the public with just four days has been a very difficult challenge,” says Corpuz.

Fort Ord closed on September 30, 1994. It was one of the largest U.S. military bases ever shutdown. The closure left behind an area of land the size of San Francisco.

Today the base is home to a university, National Monument and construction is underway on a new joint Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense heath care center. But after 20 years, a lot of work still remains.